A rezoning inquiry goes before City of Vancouver council next week for a site located at 1445-1455 West Georgia Street. The two-lot assembly is owned by Brilliant Circle Group, who acquired the two buildings in 2012/2013. The City’s policy report describes the 18,200 SF site as “unique and prominent due to its triangular shape and its location at the intersection of West Georgia, West Pender and Nicola Streets“.

It was reported in a Globe and Mail article earlier this year that the architect for the project is James Cheng.

The rezoning inquiry anticipates demolition and redevelopment of the two existing lowrise office buildings currently on the property into one landmark residential tower on what is arguably Vancouver’s most prominent ‘flatiron’ sites. The site is currently zoned DD and while not located in the West End Plan like some of the recent nearby proposals by Westbank and Bosa, City staff do appear to support a rezoning in principal. The height can only be considered because it falls under the Granville Bridge view cone limit, which is 515 ft; in addition, the site’s location on Georgia, a main arterial, also qualifies. Preliminary details include:

• a 44-storey residential tower
• a building height of 515 ft.
• 250,000 SF of residential density (13.7 FSR)

If Council gives its approval to move forward with a rezoning application, more design details will likely emerge next year.

Proposed Tower Height

The Independent by Rize Alliance is currently in the excavation phase. The 21-storey, 258 unit project at Main and Kingsway in East Vancouver was approved in late 2014 after a four year process which entailed a lengthy rezoning application process, at times contentious within the local community, and several revisions to the project.

From a marketing perspective, the project appears to have done quite well. Sales were launched in February 2015, and the project was substantially sold out within a few months.

Photo credit: mcminsen http://po.st/Nqc5eo via @imageshack

The City of Vancouver is currently holding open houses for the proposed redevelopment of Langara Gardens, a 21-acre apartment complex at Cambie Street and West 57th Avenue owned by Peterson Group in partnership with Concert Properties. Peterson acquired the property in 2009 for $157MM. In 2013, they began a process to create planning policy to redevelop the site, which in its present configuration is predominantly built out as lowrise and townhouse buildings.

Today, initial concept plans are being presented to the public. Some common concepts include:

• retention of the four existing apartment highrises
• new residential buildings varying in height
• retention and enhancement of existing retail
• construction of a new daycare

One of three concept plans

Another concept plan

Here is a brief construction update for Westbank’s much anticipated Vancouver House project; a 375-unit, 600,000 SF, 59-storey condo tower expected to be complete in 2018. The project is near sell-out with only a few units remaining.

Courtesy: mcminsen http://po.st/hdNfqi via @imageshack

Courtesy: mcminsen http://po.st/rtJB4I via @imageshack